Complex magnetohydrodynamic bow shock topology in field-aligned low-β flow around a perfectly conducting cylinder

Two-dimensional ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations are presented that demonstrate several novel phenomena in MHD shock formation. The stationary symmetrical flow of a uniform, planar, field-aligned, low-beta and superfast magnetized plasma around a perfectly conducting cylinder is calculated. The velocity of the incoming flow is chosen such that the formation of fast switch-on shocks is possible. Using a time marching procedure, a stationary bow shock is obtained, composed of two consecutive interacting shock fronts. The leading shock front has a dimpled shape and is composed of fast, intermediate and hydrodynamic shock parts. A second shock front follows the leading front. Additional intermediate shocks and tangential discontinuities are present in the downstream part of the flow. The intermediate shocks are of the 1-3, 1-4, 2-4 and 1=2-3=4 types. This is a confirmation in two dimensions of recent results on the admissibility of these types of shocks. Recently it has also been shown that the 1=2-3=4 shock, embedded in a double compound wave, is present in the analytical solution of some planar one-dimensional MHD Riemann problems. This MHD flow with interacting shocks may have applications for some observed features of fast solar Coronal Mass Ejections and other phenomena in low-beta space plasmas. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics. [S1070-664X(98)00611-9].